All eight, aged between 22 and 57, were co-workers of the victim at a scrap metal shop in the industrial area.

Cheras district police chief Zam Halim Jamaluddin said police received information at 6am from a medical officer from Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz stating that a 43-year-old victim had been brought there in an unconscious state with injuries to the face and head.

“A witness, who entered the (hostel) room, had found the victim lying on the floor with injuries on his face and informed the employer.”

The employer then rushed the victim to the hospital but the victim died.

Zam said the witness also told police another foreigner working there, aged 37, was found drenched in blood in front of the victim’s room.

When the victim’s co-workers tried to tie him up, he tried to slash his own throat with a knife, Zam added.

The suspect was later taken to the hospital. Police detained him at the monitoring ward of the emergency unit and seized an iron rod believed to have been used as a weapon in the incident.

Zam said during the incident, the suspect was said to have been intoxicated and they were investigating the motive for the murder.

“All the suspects have been remanded for seven days until April 25 to assist in investigations,” he said.